HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-24-2003 - 5b
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 24, 2003
Action Agenda
Item No. ~
SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting a Peaceful Solution to Conflict with Iraq
DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Original Resolution from HRR
Resolution with Commissioner Brown,
Gordon and Jacobs' suggested changes
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Annette Moore, 245-2250
Patricia Casper, Chair, HRC
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough
Chapel Hill.
Durham
Mebane
732-8181
968-4501
688-7331
336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider a resolution supporting a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Iraq.
BACKGROUND: On October 16, 2002, President George W. Bush signed an Iraq War
Resolution overwhelmingly approved by Congress granting him unilateral authority to take
military action against Iraq regardless of United Nations activities. The resolution gives
President Bush the authority to use military force, if necessary, to rid Iraq of its biological and
chemical weapons, disband its nuclear weapons program and to rid Iraq of Saddam Hussein.
The War Resolution also provides that the President provide either before, or within 48 hours,
notice to the Congress that further diplomatic measures would not have protected United States
security and how military action would not hurt the war on terrorism.
The Congress has not granted a President such broad and flexible authority to carry out an
undefined military operation since the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin resolution -- which helped bring
expansion of the Vietnam War.
The Human Relations Commission (HRC), at its October 14, 2002 meeting, voted to ask the
Board of County Commissioners to support a resolution asking President Bush to exhaust all
diplomatic measures to resolve the conflict with Iraq prior to utilizing pre-emptive military strikes
that could lead to war.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the resolution
and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution.
ORIGINAL RESOLUTION:
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING DIPLOMATIC SOLUTIONS TO END THE CONFLICT WITH IRAQ
THE ORANGE COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT THE
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ADOPT THE FOLLOWING
RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS, Orange County is committed to human and universal rights and any
action that preserves and protects those rights; and,
WHEREAS, although, in the fufure, military intervention in Iraq maybe necessary,
a pre-emptive strike sets a dangerous precedent and is difficult to morally
justify as being any different from an aggressive or even imperialist action;
WHEREAS, while we support the values, and the government of the United States,
we applaud the efiforts being made by the United Nations in seeking a
. peaceful resolution to the current Iraqi crisis; and
WHEREAS, as tensions in the Middle East intensify, we encourage all agencies
and governments to come together in brokering a peaceful accord; rather
than waging what can only be a devastating war.
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NOW, THEREFORE, the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby adopt this
resolution and forward it to the Orange County federal and State legislative delegations on
behalf of the citizens of Orange County.
This the 24th day of March 2003.
Margaret Brown, Chair
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
RESOLUTION with Commissioner Brown, Gordon and Jacobs' changes:
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION,.
SUPPORTING DIPLOMATIC SOLUTIONS TO END THE CONFLICT WITH IRAQ
THE ORANGE COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT THE
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS, Orange County is committed fo human and universal rights and any
action That preserves and protects those rights; and,
WHEREAS, a policy of pre-emptive strike is contrary to the governing principles of
our nation and sets a dangerous precedent, which is morally indefensible,
and cannot be justified as being any different from aggressive action; and,
WHEREAS, a unilateral military action will have a devastating impact on civilian
populations, our young men and women, and their families, and will severely
impact the well being of our citizens by depriving them of the economic
resources that fund the health and welfare initiatives of Orange County; and,
WHEREAS, while we support the values, the government and the citizen ~so/diers of
the United State, we applaud the- efforts being made by the United Nations
and many of our allies in seeking a peaceful resolution to the current Iraqi
crisis; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby resolve that as
tensions in the Middle East intensify, we encourage all agencies and governments to come
together in brokering a peaceful accord, rather than waging what can only be a devastating war
and that this resolution be forwarded to federal and state legislative delegations on behalf of the
citizens of Orange County.
This the 24th day of March 2003.
Margaret Brown, Chair
Orange County Board of County Commissioners